Rocks Dominate Saints

The Port Coquitlam Saints came into town to face the Tier 1 Junior B Shamrocks Saturday and it was the Rocks coming away with a dominant 15-4 win to finish the season atop the standings with a 17-1 record.

Angus Snow started in goal for the home team with his counterpart Liam Froese at the other end of the floor.  The Shamrocks jumped out to a 7-0 first period lead beginning with Sam Strother scoring just 28 seconds in from outside the dotted line.  At 2:09 Ryan Lowe made it 2-0 on a backhander in close.  Cohen Heavenor added another at 7:27 with the teams playing 4-on-4, followed by Brett Herle tallying at 10:35 inside the far post.  Brett Bridges made it 5-0 at 13:22 with a hard, low shot from outside the dotted line.  Jacob Obee scored at 18:52 and Sean Clark made it 7-0 at 19:21.

The home team kept the momentum going into period 2, Strother picking up his second very early, just 13 seconds in and Lowe getting his second at 1:42 on a 2-on-1 in close.  The visitors finally broke the goose egg with a pair of goals the first at 3:57 off the stick of Brayden Upshon and the second from Nathan Rosebursky at 4:46.  Victoria went on a 3-goal run beginning with Lowe getting the hat trick at 9:46.  Luca Pivetta added an unassisted marker at 10:18 on a bit of a scramble and that was the end of the night for Froese as Daniel Bowers replaced him in the Saints crease.  Strother picked up his hat trick goal on the power play at 11:18 from outside the dotted line.  PoCo got one back before the period ended, Nolan Ross connecting at 17:20 to give the Shamrocks a 12-3 lead after 40 minutes.

Period 3 saw Lowe pick up 3 more goals for 6 on the night, the first coming at 1:16 from inside the dotted line.  Victoria took the opportunity to insert Colby Hyland into the lineup in relief of Snow.  The Saints got a power play goal off the stick of Zach Claiborne at 6:11 but Lowe came back with 2 more for Victoria, the first coming shorthanded at 8:35 and then wrapping up the scoring at 17:43, faking high and dishing low to provide the margin of victory.

Ryan Lowe had a stellar game with 6 goals and 2 assists while Sam Strother added 3 goals and an assist.  Brett Bridges chipped in a goal and 4 assists while Cohen Heavenor, Luca Pivetta and Sean Clark each had a goal and 2 helpers.  Other goals came from Brett Herle and Jacob Obee while Koen Block added 6 assists.

Playoffs are on the horizon for the Tier 1 Shamrocks as they will face the 8^th place team.  Stay tuned for dates, times and opponent announcements.